I believe that Steampunk is more than just brass and watchparts. It's finding a way to combine the past and the future in an aesthetic pleasing yet still punkish way. It's living a life that looks old-fashioned, yet speaks to the future. It's taking the detritus of our modern technological society and remaking it into useful things. Join me as I search for items for my house that combine the scientific romanticism of the Victorians with our real present and imagined future.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Josie sent me this image from Cote de Texas, commenting that using light colors was easier for renters and husbands... Me, I immediately focused on the bust -- I'm not sure what it is about busts (perhaps the pretentious classical education references?), but they are immensely appealing right now.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Castle -- an ABC cop show -- has an episode featuring a "steampunk secret society" and a 200 year old bullet on next Monday. Looks like some good gadgets, but I couldn't get a read on the sets from the preview. But best of all, Castle stars Nathan Fillion -- I've had a soft spot in my heart for him since Firefly (my gateway drug into Steampunk, I have to admit... even if the Old West + Spaceships isn't quite what we call steampunk these days).

Friday, October 1, 2010

I had torn this kitchen out of Elle Decor a few years back -- it seems to be from September 2008(!) -- because I was going through a "paint the kitchen cabinets black" phase. I like how the cabinets are glossy black, with gold molding. I was surprised at how well mixing the gold and stainless steel worked, too. The pink backsplash (Benjamin Moore Pink Mix) was surprisingly but warms up a room that could otherwise be cold and stark.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Peter Montgomery is hoping to build a "Journey to the Center of the Earth" style drill as an art installation/halloween decoration.

The problem? Lack of funds. If you'd like to support his endeavor, throw him some spare change over on Kickstarter.

For more on Peter's past Halloween displays (he's legit), check out this post.

Kickstarter works in a pretty neat way: The rules are really simple: If you make or exceed your funding goal by the specified deadline, you get the money. If you don't make the goal, you get nothing. In my case, my deadline is October 14, so there are 21 days to raise the money. Also, people get gifts to thank them for pitching in.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The post on ways to hang pictures generated a lot of comments -- many people pointed out ways to upgrade the "pants hanger" -- darker wood, painting the metal, adding metal decorations to the wood, etc. The best idea, however, came from an email from Jen, who suggested using Victorian spring clips. You can see what they are and how Jen uses them above.

You can buy them at Lee Valley Hardware, where they come in 2 different styles. The drilled hole in the back lets you hang them on a nail.

Victorian Spring Clip. 4" long overall and 2-1/2" wide at the tip, it weighs about 7 oz. They are $6.20 for one, $4.49 if you buy 6 or more.

Cast Steel Spring Clip. The cast steel is a bit bigger at 4-1/4" long overall and 2-1/2" wide at the tip, it weighs about 6 oz. $8.80 for one, $7.10 for 6 or more.

For my purposes I think two at the corners of a large print (and perhaps two more at the bottom? I think I'll have to experiment...) would be as cheap as a poster frame, and walk the casual vs Victorian style line that I want my office to have.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Carolina Fontoura Alzaga makes chandeliers out of recycled bicycle parts. These are not just your run of the mill recycled lighting (although we love those too!). These are grand statements fit for your entry hall or ballroom. I love how they mimic the look of traditional crystal chandeliers, but with a lot more edge.

From her artist's statement:

This body of work draws inspiration from Victorian chandeliers, DIY and bike culture, and the use of unartistic materials....

These subversive objects challenge the aesthetics of wealth by visually contrasting the classic elegance of the candelabrum with the newfound elegance of discarded, mechanical bicycle parts.

Don't have a ballroom or a grand staircase? How about some smaller scale sconces for a hallway?

Carolina emailed me, but I had already seen her work thanks to a feature on Treehugger that Michael pointed out to me.

Monday, September 13, 2010

A number of you asked if I'd seen the fall Restoration Hardware Catalog. I had! I just took me a while to get this post together. Here's my favorite rooms from the catalog, and some of my favorite pieces.

I love the cast iron trolley lights. I actually have two tractor seats like these on my front porch (a thrift shopping score!) -- as cool as they look, Ben hates them because they aren't that comfortable.

Setting the coffee table on a wood pallet is a neat trick -- I love the interplay of materials: wood, stone, leather.

I've liked armillary sphere chandeliers for a long time, and this one is no exception. Don't miss the brass hour glasses. All this room needs is a telescope in the corner by the window to be the very comfortable lair of an amateur astronomer.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

This has potential: Home Depot is now working with Martha Stewart on a kitchen line -- cabinets, countertops, and hardware. I know, Martha isn't steampunk, but her style is much more co-optable than most other affordable kitchen options, and Home Depot is a lot easier to find and order at than Ikea for most parts of the country.

Here's my favorites from the collection:

This "Turkey Hill" cabinet is very similar to the Ikea Liljestad I ended up chosing for my kitchen -- however the glass door options are much cooler with the Martha Steware line. (There's one called webwork that looks like leaded glass!) Also notice how this kitchen combines two different cabinet colors -- one for the perimeter and another for the island. I think this is a great way to create an eclectic look (consider one color for the upper cabinets and another for the lower ones).

This style -- Dunemere -- is a bit too "arts and crafts" for me, but check out the backsplash and countertops. They are a Martha branded Corian in a color called "Bedford Marble." Corian has a lot going for it, but I was never able to find it in a style that looked enough like marble (not granite!). (I ended up with real marble, and am loving it.)

This is my favorite of the three. Instead of wood, it's a laminate (read: probably cheaper). The color here is just perfect for a vintage farmhouse, and I think the slightly legged kickplates under the cabinets pull the look together.

As someone whose managed to redo two kitchens in the last year, a part of me wishes these had come out 6 months earlier.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

We're a big fan of book and library based decor around here, and Rich found this article in the Sacramento Bee about how to build an extremely simple shelf from a hardback book...

Notice how they match the spine color with the wall color. And it's always fun to create thematic shelves based on your pick of books e.g. cookbooks or a knife based murder mystery (how about "Slip of the Knife" or "A Knife to Remember") for a kitchen.

Monday, August 30, 2010

It's that time of year again -- all the fall catalogs are coming in the mail. Here's what Pottery Barn has this season that is steampunk influenced or appropriate to a steampunk home.

First, the best two styling ideas from the fall catalog.

The gold, browns, and greys in this gallery wall really appealed to me. (I've been searching out well done gallery walls for ideas for my house, and this one has the eclectic mix of framed art and more tactile items, united by a good color scheme, that I like.)

Halloween-y, but I liked the idea of stacking books under a glass cloche.

Lastly, a kaboodle list with my choices -- some new, some have been around a while.

Friday, August 27, 2010

this space houses the offices of the open planning project (topp) – a nonprofit founded by mark gorton, which develops tech tools for mapping and geospacial applications.

I love the use of globes and globe shapes to echo the function of the organization!

The designers, Ashley DeVries and Christine Dalsass, say:We used a globe/mapping theme throughout the office, since it relates so closely to Topp's work. Almost all of the globes we used are vintage and each one is different. There are about 500 globes in the office, and we are always buying more!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Poke Acupuncture is a very non-traditional acupuncturist office -- just take a look!

Acupuncturist Russell Brown says:

What I am, and what I want my office to reflect, is an eclectic and stylish mix of fine and creative arts, and culture, and knowledge and music. I love birds, and vintage medical equipment. I like paint-by-numbers and photographs that tell stories. All my good friends know that I love the smell of old books and holding them always makes me cry. I want to showcase the tremendous talents of some of the great artists who have donated pieces to my “gallery” and I much prefer the sound of a great melancholy band to the tinkle of a mechanical fountain that just makes me have to pee. I think most of us feel better when we’re cozied up in our living rooms than in a cold medical office and I want that for my patients when they come here.

To that end, I have created this office for my patients, to relax in, to let go of their day, and to be transported into another world where they might be nourished not just by alternative healthcare, but an alternative environment to receive that care.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Leather is one of those materials that "fits" steampunk very well -- it has vibes of the Victorian American West, is a softer counterpart to too much metal, yet is tough enough to be used by the gentleman explorer. Outside of upholstery or accessories, however, it's hard to incorporate into your home -- until now!